Mask.



J. NBSVADBA.

MASK.

APPLIOATION FILEDv FEB. 7, 1914.

Patented June 30, 1914.

TT i;

1 STATES PATENT OFFICE?.

JOHN NESVADBA, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO STEVE KRNA, OF BINGI-IATIITON, NEW YORK.

iviAsK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1914:.

Application filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,206.

T0 all whom it may concern Re it known that I, JOHN NEsvADA, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Masks, of which the following is a specication. y

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in masks.

An obiect of the invention is to provide a mask for vremen that will permit the firemen to enter burning buildings filled with smoke and which will not in any way inter fere with the vision or breathing of the men.

A furtlier object of the invention is to provide a mask formed of absorbent material, preferably sponge, that is to be satu rated with water or other fiuid and having eye openings therein carrying lenses and further provided with adjustable elastic strap connections whereby the same may be adjusted to heads of different sizes.

With the above and other objects in view, that will appear as the nature of the invention is better' understood, the same consists in the novel construction to be hereinafter more fully described and then claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing by characters denoting like parts throughout the several views and 1n which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mask illustrating its manner of use. Fig. 2 is a rear face view illustrating the manner of connecting the straps thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2., illustrating the manner of positioning the vision lenses in the mask, and Fig. 1- is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4 4: of Fig. 2 illustrating the manner of connecting the straps to the mask proper.

1t is a well known fact that firemen are often rendered unconscious by the dense smoke within a burning building and with an object to overcome the danger incident thereto, I have provided a face mask formed of absorbent material to be worn by firemen and having eye openings therein provided with lenses. The absorbent material is to be saturated with water or other fluid which will prevent the passage of smoke or gases through the absorbent material, while the lenses in the mask will permit the wearer to discern objects and at the same time protect the eyes.l

Referring more specifically to the drawmg accompanying this application, the reference numeral 10 denotes a face mask of a shape suitable to cover the major portion of the face, extending from the forehead to a point below the chin and covering a portion of the cheeks of the wearer.

The invention will be better understood by referring to Fig. 2 which shows a rear face view of the mask. The mask 1() is formed. of absorbent material, preferably sponge.

Eye openings are provided in the mask 10 adjacent the upper end thereof so that when the mask is in position upon the face the said openings will be alined with the eyes of the wearer and positioned within the eye openings are the lenses 11. The lenses 11 are carried by ring members 12. Secured to the mask 10 at a point adjacent the upper end thereof is a strip of material 13 which may be either light leather or other suitable nonabsorbent fabric, the strip 13 having openings therein which register with the eye openings in the said mask. The edges of the openings in the strip 13 are turned into the eye openings in the mask 10 as at 1&1. The strip 13 is secured to the mask 10 by stitching 15 which preferably passes com` pletely through the mask 10 to insure the stability of the parts.

The mask 1() is provided with reinforcing strips 16 and 17 of non-absorbent material, the strips 16 being stitched to the inner side of the cheek portions as at 18, while the reinforcing strip 17 is stitched to the chin portion as at 19, the stitching 18 and 19 passing completely through the mask 10 as shown in Fig. 4.

Means are provided for securing the mask 10 to the head of a wearer and consists of elastic straps Q0 and 20, the strap 20 being secured to the end of the strip 13 by stitching 21 while the strap 20 is secured to the meeting ends of the reinforcing strips 16 and 17 as by stitching 22. These elastic straps 20 and Q0" are connected together at their opposite ends as at 23 and secured to the meeting ends 23 is the buckle strap connection 24.

Tt will be readily discerned from the above description of the device that the several parts shown are so connected as to render the rings 12 may be permanently secured in the mask 10` or be frictionally held therein by the said ring engaging the turned in portion 14 lof the strip 13.

While l have shown and described the areiferred embodiment of m invention I do not Wish to coniine myself thereto, as various forms and modifications may be had which fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l claim 1. A remans face mask formed of a sheet of absorbent material having eye openings therein, a strip of non-absorbent material carrying lenses secured to the inner side of the mask, said lenses to be received in the eye openings, elastic straps secured to the non-absorbent strip and buckle straps carried by the elastic straps.

2. ln a face mask, a shield of absorbent material having eye openings therein, a .strip oi non-absorbent material carrying lenses stitched to said shield, said lenses to be received in the eye openings, cheek and ohm reinforcing strips stitched to said shield,

and buckle straps stitched to said reinforcing'strips, all of said stitching passing compl'etely through the mask.

3. A face mask, comprising a shield of sponge or like absorbent material formed -With eye openings, a reinforcing strip secured to the inner side of said shield, lenses secured to said strip, vertically-disposed reinforcing strips on the inner side of said shield, and buckle straps secured at their inner ends to said reinforcing strips for se curing the mask to the Wearers head.

Y t. A face mask comprising a shield of absorbent material formed With eye openings, ,a reinforcing strip of non-absorbent material having eye openings, flanged lens frames fitting Within the openings in said strip, lenses held in said frames, reinforcing strips also of non-absorbent material disposed vertically on the inner sides of the shield, and

strips.

In testimony whereof aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN NESVADBA.

lVitnesses:

JOSEPH S. ONEIL,

GERTRUDE DONOVAN.

Copies of this patent, may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

securing stra )s securedto said reinforcino :a v C 

